On September 27, 2010, the federal Office on Research on Women's Health (ORWH) celebrated it's 20th Anniversary at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.    Several of the former or current Congressional representatives who created the legislation to establish the ORWH were present to hear a summary of the progress made in the last 20 years.   In addition, the Vision for 2020 for Women's Health was presented by Dr. Vivian Pinn, the Associate Director for Research on Women's Health.     This Vision was a compilation of a two year strategic planning process that included 5 regional meetings held across the country including one held at Northwestern University, home of the Institute for Women's Health Research.  These meeting involved more than 1500 scientists, advocates, public policy experts, health providers and elected officials.  It included published testimony from hundreds of consumers.

The six goals for the future included in the strategic plan are:

1.  Increase sex difference research in basic science studies.

2. Incorporate findings of sex/gender differences in the design and application of new technologies, medical devices, and therapeutic drugs.

3. Actualize personalized prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics for girls and women.

4. Create strategic alliances and partnerships to maximize the domestic and global impact of women's health research.

5. Develop and implement new communication and social networking technologies to increase understanding and appreciation of women's health and wellness research.

6. Employ innovative strategies to build a well-trained, diverse, and vigorous women's health research workforce.

Each of these goals has a list of specific action objectives.  The complete strategic plan can be reviewed by viewing ORWH_Strategic-Plan_Vol_1_508

To view the 20th Anniversary webcast click here.